When it Came to Packaging Management, They Were Pulling Their Hair Out… Until They Discovered PackTotal’s Silky Smooth Solution

In the ever-evolving landscape of packaging waste regulations, companies in the personal care industry face unique challenges when it comes to managing and reporting their packaging data.

This case study follows how a mid-sized personal care company transitioned from a manual, spreadsheet-based packaging waste reporting system to a more efficient and reliable solution using PackTotal data management software. By implementing PackTotal, the company streamlined its compliance efforts, improved data accuracy, and gained valuable insights into its packaging portfolio. 

Objectives:

• Streamline packaging waste reporting processes
• Ensure accurate and reliable data management
• Achieve compliance with Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations
• Gain valuable insights into packaging portfolio for informed decision-making

Context:

The company, an importer and distributor of personal care products, operates in the UK, sourcing finished products from Europe and supplying them to major retailers. With a small portion of its products exported back to Europe, the company must navigate the complexities of both domestic and international packaging waste regulations.  

The introduction of new packaging waste regulations, such as the Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), compounded the challenges of managing and reporting packaging data using their existing spreadsheet-based system.

Challenges: Why manual spreadsheet-based reporting can lead to inaccurate data and time-consuming processes.

The company’s reliance on numerous spreadsheets for packaging waste reporting led to several pain points:

• Data collation from various stakeholders was time-consuming and prone to errors
• A single person was responsible for final calculations and reconciliation, creating a bottleneck
• The Increasing complexity of regulations made spreadsheet-based management unfeasible
• The lack of an ERP system to hold necessary data further compounded the challenge

Solution: Solving the packaging waste reporting challenge by transitioning to PackTotal software:

To address these challenges the company implemented PackTotal’s packaging data management software. The transition process was straightforward, with PackTotal’s team working closely with the company to populate the database using their existing spreadsheets.

The PackTotal software seamlessly integrated into the company’s existing workflow, requiring no additional resources. The user-friendly interface and intuitive design made it simple for staff to input data and generate reports.

A two-phase setup approach allowed for easy data sense-checking and identification of missing information.

How the personal care company achieved streamlined compliance and valuable insights with PackTotal

Since implementing PackTotal, the company has experienced significant improvements in their packaging data management processes. Key results include:

1. Automated PPT calculations: The software automatically calculates the company’s PPT and EPR liabilities throughout each reporting period, allowing for real-time monitoring and easy final submission.
2. Increased confidence in data accuracy: PackTotal’s automated calculations and comprehensive data management capabilities ensure reliable and consistent reporting.
3. Customer reporting: PackTotal generates customer-specific reports to assist with cost allocation and provides support in formatting data to meet individual customer requirements.
4. Comprehensive audit trail: With the click of a button, the software generates a full breakdown of calculations and related substantive documentation, ensuring a complete and auditable paper trail.
5. Cost-efficient Packaging compliance: By integrating PackTotal into existing staff roles, the company has achieved compliance without additional resources.
6. Enhanced decision-making: The improved visibility of packaging data enables the company to make informed decisions about its packaging strategies with easy analysis of packaging types, materials, and PCR content.

Testimonial:

“Implementing PackTotal has been a game-changer for our packaging waste reporting process. The whole experience of launching the PackTotal database was pain-free. The software is user-friendly, and the support team has been exceptional in helping us transition from our spreadsheet-based system. Not only has PackTotal simplified our PPT and EPR reports, but it has also provided us with valuable insights into our packaging portfolio. The reporting and search functionality of the database makes it a real asset to the business in terms of giving us simple visibility of all our packaging.”

Conclusion:

For companies in the personal care industry, managing packaging waste reporting can be daunting, especially in light of new regulations like the Plastic Packaging Tax and Extended Producer Responsibility. As demonstrated by this case study, implementing a dedicated packaging data management system like PackTotal can streamline the reporting process, ensure accurate and reliable data, and provide valuable insights into a company’s packaging portfolio. By embracing digital solutions, companies can confidently navigate the complexities of packaging waste regulations while driving operational efficiency and better decision-making.